Combination of cover with hood

Abstract

Disclosed is a hood-cover combination for a lens of a camera. The hood-cover combination includes a hood, two covers and at least one button. The hood includes at least one canopy formed thereon. The covers are pivotally connected to the hood between an opening position and a closing position. The button is provided on the hood. The button is normally in a locking position for locking the covers in the opening position. The button is movable to a releasing position for allowing the pivoting of the cover to the opening position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hood-cover combination including:
 a hood including at least one canopy formed thereon; 
 two covers pivotally connected to the hood between an opening position and a closing position and each formed with two lugs, wherein one of the lugs includes a non-circular bore defined therein; 
 at least one button provided on the hood, wherein the button is normally in a locking position for locking the covers in the opening position and movable to a releasing position for allowing the pivoting of the covers to the opening position; and 
 two connector assemblies each including:
 an axle inserted in the lugs of a corresponding one of the covers via the hood; 
 a helical spring provided around the axle and formed with an end located against a corresponding one of the covers and another end located against the hood so that the helical spring tends to pivot a corresponding one of the covers to the opening position from the closing position; and 
 a cap fit on an end of the axle and formed with a flat tip inserted in the non-circular bore and a rib located against one of the ends of the helical spring. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 1 , further including a ring secured to the hood at an end and attachable to a frame of a lens of a camera at another end. 
     
     
       3. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the axle includes an enlarged head formed at an opposite end, wherein the helical spring is located between the cap and the enlarged head of the axle. 
     
     
       4. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein each of the connector assemblies further includes a washer provided on the axle and sandwiched between the enlarged head of the axle and the helical spring. 
     
     
       5. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the other lug includes a circular bore defined therein, wherein each of the connector assemblies further includes a bushing inserted in the circular bore, wherein the axle is inserted in the bushing. 
     
     
       6. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the button includes a barb for hooking the covers. 
     
     
       7. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 1 , further including a spring for biasing the button to the locking position. 
     
     
       8. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the spring is a bent leaf spring. 
     
     
       9. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the spring is a helical spring. 
     
     
       10. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 9 , further including a pin inserted in the hood through the helical spring. 
     
     
       11. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the button includes two lugs formed thereon, wherein the pin is inserted through the lugs. 
     
     
       12. The hood-cover combination in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the helical spring is located between the lugs.